HEAT SINK ASSEMBLY FOR METER SOCKET ADAPTER
A heat sink assembly includes a metal portion that is electrically conductive and thermally conductive, the metal portion configured to couple to conductors of a meter socket adapter (MSA) to draw heat from the conductors of the MSA and a plastic portion that is electrically insulative and thermally conductive, the plastic portion coupled to the metal portion to transfer heat from the metal portion to an exterior of the MSA, wherein the plastic portion is molded over a part of the metal portion.
1 . A heat sink assembly, comprising:
a metal portion that is electrically conductive and thermally conductive, the metal portion configured to couple to conductors of a meter socket adapter (MSA) to draw heat from the conductors of the MSA; and
a plastic portion that is electrically insulative and thermally conductive, the plastic portion coupled to the metal portion to transfer heat from the metal portion to an exterior of the MSA, wherein the plastic portion is molded over a part of the metal portion.
2 . The heat sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metal portion includes a first metal segment and a second metal segment, the first metal segment coupled to a first conductor of the conductors of the MSA and the second metal segment coupled to a second conductor of the conductors of the MSA.
3 . The heat sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plastic portion includes blades to increase a surface area of the plastic portion.
4 . The heat sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metal portion includes an embedded part that extends laterally within the plastic portion.
5 . The heat sink assembly of claim 4 , wherein the embedded part extends laterally over at least 50% of an area of the plastic portion.
6 . The heat sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the plastic portion is flush with a housing of the MSA.
7 . The heat sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plastic portion has anisotropic thermal conductivity, and wherein the plastic portion has a higher thermal conductivity in a first direction towards an exterior surface of the plastic portion than in a second direction parallel to the exterior surface of the plastic portion.
8 . The heat sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plastic portion is not grounded.
9 . The heat sink assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plastic portion is an injection-molded thermoplastic including additives that increase the thermal conductivity of the thermoplastic.
10 . A meter socket adapter (MSA), comprising:
a first conductor configured to electrically couple to a meter socket;
a second conductor configured to electrically couple to an electrical meter;
a housing; and
a heat sink assembly, comprising:
a metal portion that is electrically conductive and thermally conductive, the metal portion configured to couple to the first conductor and the second conductor to draw heat from the first conductor and the second conductor; and
a plastic portion that is electrically insulative and thermally conductive, the plastic portion coupled to the metal portion to transfer heat from the metal portion to an exterior of the housing, wherein the plastic portion is molded over a part of the metal portion.
11 . The MSA of claim 10 , wherein the metal portion includes a first metal segment and a second metal segment, the first metal segment coupled to the first conductor and the second metal segment coupled to the second conductor.
12 . The MSA of claim 10 , wherein the plastic portion includes blades to increase a surface area of the plastic portion.
13 . The MSA of claim 10 , wherein the metal portion includes an embedded part that extends laterally within the plastic portion.
14 . The MSA of claim 13 , wherein the embedded part extends laterally over at least 50% of an area of the plastic portion.
15 . The MSA of claim 10 , wherein an exterior surface of the plastic portion is flush with the housing.
16 . The MSA of claim 10 , wherein the plastic portion has anisotropic thermal conductivity, and wherein the plastic portion has a higher thermal conductivity in a first direction towards an exterior surface of the plastic portion than in a second direction parallel to the exterior surface of the plastic portion.
17 . The MSA of claim 10 , wherein the plastic portion is not grounded.
18 . The MSA of claim 10 , wherein the plastic portion is an injection-molded thermoplastic including additives that increase the thermal conductivity of the thermoplastic.
19 . A method for manufacturing a heat sink assembly for a meter socket adapter (MSA), the method comprising:
positioning a metal portion of the heat sink assembly within a mold, the metal portion configured to couple to conductors of the MSA; and
forming a plastic portion of the heat sink assembly by injecting a thermoplastic including additives to increase thermal conductivity into the mold such that the plastic portion is molded over a part of the metal portion.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the mold is configured such that the plastic portion includes blades that are curved to be flush with a cylindrical housing of the MSA.